Resort Planning

The modern concept of a resort is that planned as an integrated development with consideration given to its compatibility with the natural environment and possible benefits to local communities. Economic feasibility analysis: Analysis of the economic costs and benefits of a project to the entire area, region or country. A project may generate overall positive economic benefits by attracting tourists to the area, but not make a profit in itself. Financial feasibility analysis: The financial rate of return and profitability of a project based only on its own costs and revenues.

Resort Planning Process

1. First, market and product assessment is conducted, the resort development objectives, type and size determined in preliminary form, the site selected, and conceptual planning and prefeasibility analysis carried out. 2. Then the relationships development economically plan. resort and regional/community plan is prepared, with phasing of and evaluated environmentally and as a basis for deciding on the final

3. A specific environmental and social impact analysis must be conducted of the plan to ensure that the resort will not result in undue environmentally and economically as a basis for deciding on the final plan. 4.Then a final-economic and financial feasibility analysis is carried out to make certain that the resort will be economically viable and produce an acceptable financial rate of return. The results of this analysis may also require modifications to the plan. 5. Finally, the implementation program is prepared and construction of the first phase begins.

 There is a tendency for successful resorts to eventually be overdeveloped because they have been successful thus leading to environmental problems and decline of the resorts popularity. The best approach is to establish a maximum size for each resort based on environmental and other relevant considerations and, when one resort in an area is fully developed, to then develop new resorts elsewhere in the area or rehabilitate declining existing tourism areas.

 If there are local communities existing near the resort, community residents or their spokesmen should be involved in key stages of the resort planning process. Techniques should be devised for nearby residents to receive direct benefits from the resort including employment, operation of commercial facilities, and improved community infrastructure and facilities.

 The concept of land use zoning is applicable to resorts. A basic principle is conservation of specific environmental features Related to this conservation is maintenance of view plane and corridors so that there are views of important features from the building in the final development.

 Resorts should have controlled access and an efficient but not high-speed road network. Emphasis should be on pedestrians in the resort and, in larger resorts, use of non-polluting vehicles such as small battery operated buses to provide general transport within the resort grounds. Public access to the resort should be allowed on a controlled basis including to the main attraction features such as beaches and historic places.

Resort Planning Process

Determination of Objectives, Type & Size of Resort, including General Environmental Assessment of Area Resort Concept & Prefeasibility Analysis (with feedback to above steps, project terminated if determined infeasible) Environmental & Determination of Facility Regional Carrying Capacity & Land Use Relationships Analysis Requirements Determination of Access to Community Infrastructure Regional Relationships Requirements Integration Formulation of Regional Relationships & Resort Land Use Plan with Phasing of Development (alternative & final plans) Specific Environmental & Social Assessment (with feedback to plan formulation) Implementation Program First Stage Development Plan Retirement of Later Phases Implementation of Later Phases

Market & Product Assessment of Area

Resort Site Selection

 Also important functional grouping of resort facilities and activities, such as accommodation,

commercial and cultural facilities, and recreation facilities, in suitable areas. Accommodation should be well related to the main resort attractions such as beaches but not impinging on them.

SIMILARITIES OF HOTEL & RESORT MANAGEMENT

Both sell meals and rooms
Both are labor-intensive Both have buildings and grounds which require

maintenance and upkeep Courtesy and Guest service importance to both Inn keeping laws apply to both

are

of

prime

DIFF. IN MGT. OF HOTELS & RESORTS

Visitor Market Hotels cater primarily to both business travellers and leisure travellers Resorts cater primarily to the vacation and leisure travellers. 2. Facilities Resort rooms are larger More private space is needed for resorts Larger amount of land is required for resorts for recreational facilities
1.

DIFF. IN MGT. OF HOTELS & RESORTS

3.

Location Hotels are located in urban areas Resorts are located in rural areas
Remoteness of the resort has an appeal to the traveler who seeks an environment different from the urban & sub-urban environment of work and home Thus, resorts must be self-contained, that is, it should have generous storage for food, domestic goods, support services

DIFF. IN MGT. OF HOTELS & RESORTS

4.

Recreation
Unlike hotels, resorts need to invest heavily on land and equipment for recreation

5.

Seasonality in Demand
Hotels operate year-round Most resorts are seasonal due to location

6.

Personnel Attitude
In a hotel, service is more business-like. Guests look at hotel as temporary shelter In a resort, the guest expects to be pampered and service should convey Home & Family Hospitality

DIFF. IN MGT. OF HOTELS & RESORTS

Managerial Knowhow In addition to knowhow of hotel management concepts, resort managers are expected to have knowledge in two areas: The natural resource on which the resort is based Guest activity programming Personalized guest relations 8. Labor Skills Employees should be able to rotate in different jobs
7.

DIFF. IN MGT. OF HOTELS & RESORTS

Corporate/Employer Responsibility Local communities may highly depend on the resort for its economic future. Hence, the resort should take on additional responsibility to the community such as employment opportunities 10. Sources of Revenue Hotels get most of their income fr. rooms, and F&B In addition to rooms and F&B, resorts earn a lot from recreational activities & retail sales
9. -

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS IN PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT

Factors to Consider in resort development

1.
2. 3.

Resort development involves a difficult trade-off between benefits and unfavorable impacts on the ff. aspects: Economic Social Environmental

A. Economic Considerations in Resort Devt.

Variables that Determine Profitability 1. Capacity

The more facilities & guests, the higher the profit However, capacity is limited by Physical limitations and Ecological limitations

2.

Length of the Season

Is the season long enough to earn profit?

3.

Capital Investment
Heavy costs in fixed assets for land, building and recreational facilities Long payback period

B. Social Considerations in Resort Devt.

It is imperative for a resort to develop & maintain

good relations with the local community

They are the main source of labor They are local customers They provide community services The communitys peace & order and general attitude

towards tourism and tourists has great impact on tourism movement to the resort

B. Social Considerations in Resort Devt.

1.

Employment Communities welcome the social benefit of job creation in construction & operations However, it has employment-related social problems: o Established industries may be disrupted if they lose good employees who transfer to the resort o Communities may resent hiring of outsiders for better paying positions o For local community members working in the resort, exposure to the high lifestyle of resorts may cause dissatisfaction w/ his lifestyle & develop a false sense of values anchored on material acquisitions & creature comforts

B. Social Considerations in Resort Devt.

2. Recreational development
Residents may resent and resist resort devt. if it

they dont have access & are hindered from leisure activities they used to enjoy 3. Infrastructure requirements & demands The resort would compete with local community for use of water, energy, transportation & communication resources

B. Social Considerations in Resort Devt.

4. Lifestyle changes
More wives may take on financial obligations than their

husbands, disrupting traditional social norms Residents exposed to tourists lifestyles become inclined to spend more specially on imported goods Possible increases in prostitution, drug addiction & other crimes as a result of interaction with tourists

5. Congestion
Human traffic Vehicular traffic

C. Environmental Considerations in Resort Devt.

Pollution From fertilizers, pesticides, exhaust fumes, solid wastes & sewage 2. Conservation Resort devt. may damage the flora & fauna 3. Aesthetic impact Resort development may alter the view & beauty of the natural landscape
1.

STEPS TO MINIMIZE ADVERSE SOCIAL & ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

Conduct a study on the social & environmental impacts 2. Develop action plan to maximize positive impacts & lessen negative impacts 3. Involve the local community in the communitybased sustainable planning and development processes 4. Pursue continuing resort-community programs
1.

Educational interchanges & lectures Social programs for the community such as medical & dental missions Joint environmental programs such as beach and reef clean-up drives

STAGES IN RESORT DEVELOPMENT

Feasibility Analysis & Planning Involves forecasting of demand, market analysis, examination of site characteristics and determination of financial feasibility 2. Construction 3. Operations/Management
1.

RESORT PLANNING PRINCIPLES

Fundamental Concepts Resort Environment
Give the resort a distinctive image and character that

provides a contrast to the tourists home environment

Environmental Orientation
Allow tourist appreciation of nature at environmentally

sustainable manner

Community Orientation
Allow tourist interaction with local residents and

encourage learning of local culture

WATER-BASED RESORTS

ELEMENTS IN SELECTING BEACH SITES

Access to permanent or transient seasonal population 2. Access to major roads 3. Climate 4. Water quality Monitor bacterial count resulting from swimmers, sewage overflows, and runoffs from city streets to the waters
1.

ASPECTS OF BEACH DEVELOPMENT

Sea a) air temperature, b) water temperature, c) intensity of the wind & sun, d) currents, tides and waves, e) clarity of water, f) pollution, g) ecology/marine life, h) attractions 2. Seashore Consists of the surface under the water extending up to a depth of six feet A gentle, uniform slope until 6 ft. depth is ideal Coarse sand or pea pebbles at the bottom is ideal
1.

ASPECTS OF BEACH DEVELOPMENT

3. Beach

Consider quality of sand, slope and distance from the shore

Offers views to both the sea and inland Where service facilities, access roads, parking facilities & bathhouses are located Provides the setting for the attraction

4. Back Beach

5. Coastal stretch
6. Surrounding Country

BEACH RESORT PRODUCT LIFE CYLCLE

Exploration few adventurous tourists visit; no facilities Involvement - first resorts are developed Development - More resorts developed, residents sell land and move to other areas due to increased taxes

Consolidation growth levels off; resort season extended

Stagnation capacity is reached

Decline over-commercialization, congestion, less visitors

Rejuvenation measures to arrest decline